DriveTech has launched a new whitepaper called ‘Autonomous driving – will they be safer and where does this leave the driver?’.
The paper. the latest in a series, takes stock of the variously documented and reported moves towards the truly autonomous (driverless) vehicle.
At the core of the debate is not necessarily just the technological challenge to create a vehicle that can move, navigate and communicate on its own, but the more all-embracing global and infrastructure requirements to make such an idea a reality on public highways across the world, while ensuring safety – a primary concern.
DriveTech’s head of marketing Colin Paterson (pictured) said: “As a professional risk management and driver training organisation, we look at various aspects of managing a fleet safely and cost effectively – driver training being a core component.
"We have looked at the cost of collisions and the impact driver training can have, and on how driver behaviour can affect fleet running costs including insurance and maintenance and repair."
The paper touches on the key issues around safety, roads infrastructure, the ‘Safe System’ underpinning much of safe transport police going forward, regulatory and enforcement considerations and the needs for robust international standards and conventions, and a robust cyber security environment.
Paterson said: “This autonomous vehicle whitepaper takes a broad look at a future paradigm shift in mobility that is the promise of autonomous vehicles.
"We hope it can help stimulate debate and ensure the driver and driver education is not forgotten, ensuring we continue to address real-time safety on our roads.”
It suggests that the fully autonomous vehicle world is a way off yet, and that drivers need to be brought on the journey of understanding as vehicle technology changes concluding that, for the foreseeable future, we leave the driver and driver education behind at our peril.
Find out more about DriveTech’s new whitepaper (and access the series) online.
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